Wall-covering



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. SHEPHARD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WALL-COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 37 6,350, dated January 10, I888.

Application filed January 13, 1857. Serial No. 224,279. (No specimens.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

- Be it known that 1, JOHN A. SHEPHARD, of Oleveland,in the countyof (Juyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Painted and Decorated waltsurfaces, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to provide a painted and decorated wall-covering in sheet form, which shallbe at once cheap and durable.

I first provide an adhesive or pasty compound, of such nature that when dry it will present a tough elastic body. I recommend, as best adapted for the purpose, a compound prepared as follows: In two gallons of hot water dissolve one pound of glue. To this solution add one pound of india-rubber dissolved in any ordinary or suitable manner, and after 'the rubber is thoroughly incorporated add one-half pound of cornstarch dis solved in hot water, and agitate the mass until all the ingredients are intimately united. I next provide a base-sheet, of woven fabric, tough paper, or other analogous material, preferably, however, of cotton sheeting, and coat the same thoroughly with the compound above described, and permit it to dry until it acquires what is technically known as a tacky condition. cheesecloth, or similar fabric, saturate the same with the compound, and, after spreading it upon the base-sheet, work it by hand,

or otherwise until it presents a wrinkled,

waved, or other irregular surface, after which it is permitted to dry. The paste serves the double purpose of uniting the two sheets and of stiffening the raised portions of the surface. sheet, and giving the same a sufficient body to keep it in form,combined with an elasticity or pliability such as to prevent it from cracking or breaking. After the united sheets are dry I coat the surface-sheet with auyappropriate paint, and ornament it by the applica tion ofgilt, bronze, mica, sand,-flock, or other materials, according to taste. The resulting product is a strong pliable body composed of two inseparable sheets or layers, one presenting a smooth surface adapted to be pasted or cemented to the wall, and the other presenting an irregular ornamental surface. Unlike I then provide a surfacesheet of V coverings made of rigid inflexible materials and compounds, my covering may be rolled and bent without injury.

While I prefer to employ the adhesive stiffening compound above described, it is to be understood that any other suitable compound of like character may be substituted therefor. It is to be further understood that the two sheets maybe united by a cement or compound differing from that with which the surfacesheet is charged, if desired.

I am aware that it has been proposed to wrinkle paper by soaking the same in water, then squeezing and drying it, and that it has been proposed to paste the dried wrinkled sheet of paper upon another sheet, and when the same was dried to harden the surface by .shellacing or glue-sizing the same, and I lay no claim thereto.

It is to be noted, as a peculiarity of my product, that owing to the character of the fabric from which it is made and the manner in which the fabric is treated the product has-a pliable and elastic nature, so that it may be rolled for transportation, and that when in place it is free from liability to be cracked or fractured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A pliable wall covering consisting of a flat base-sheet of woven fabric and a wrinkled surface-sheet of woven fabric, as cheese-cloth. the two cemented together and both charged or filled with sizing material, substantially as described. I

2. In a wall-covering, a base-sheet combined with a wrinkled surface-sheet of woven material, as cheese-cloth, the two cemented together, and the surface-sheet filled with a tough elastic material, substantially as set forth, whereby it is rendered pliable and prevented from cracking.

In testimony whereofIhereunto set my hand, this 8d day of January, 1887, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

.JOHN A. SHEPHARD.

Witnesses:

SIDNEY I. HOLLINGSWORTH, WILLIAM H. SHIPLEY. 

